4 Garage Door Hacks to Keep Your Home Safe & Protected

Your Gilbert garage door is a big entry point into your home. Some burglars will just wait for the door to be left open to sneak inside. Others will just bypass the door’s security as a means of gaining entry. Many people leave the door leading from their home to their garage unlocked since they think of the garage door as their security, so this makes it easy for the burglar to get inside once bypassing the garage door.

You need to take steps to secure your garage door and your home. Here are four hacks you can do to keep your home secure:

Keep Your Remote Out of Sight

Most people keep their garage door opener in Mesa right on their visor or their dashboard in their vehicle. That’s where it’s easiest to access when leaving or entering your home. Unfortunately, that’s also where it’s easy for burglars to see. It’s quite easy for a burglar to smash your side window and get into your vehicle. When that happens, they can also grab your opener and gain easy access to your house. Just stay safe and stow your garage door remote in a glove box or other compartment when you’re not in the vehicle.

"Lock" Your Garage Door Opener

Garage door opener manufacturers, especially LiftMaster, deeply care about your safety and security. Most garage door openers come with a "lock" feature. This feature doesn't physically lock the garage door so it doesn't move, but disables the remotes from working in the event your remote gets stolen.

Your outside keypad will still work, because that is a coded entry and bypasses the lock feature.

You can use the lock feature as much as you would like and it is very simple to deactivate when not in use. The best times to use this feature are at night if you park your cars outside, or also when you leave to go on a trip.

Install an Automatic Deadbolt

Another garage door hack that most people don't know about is the automatic deadbolt. Depending on your garage door opener brand and model, you may be able to have this lock installed on your Gilbert garage door that will increase the security of your garage door. The lock is installed inside your garage, so it cannot be manually opened from outside your home. These locks will automatically unlock and lock whenever you open and close your garage door.

As a LiftMaster Authorized Partner, we install the LiftMaster 98022 wall-mount opener, which comes with the 841LM Automatic Garage Door Lock in the box. The 841LM can also be added to select Wi-Fi LiftMaster belt drive and chain drive openers, so ask our team whether your current opener is compatible.

Repair Damage Quickly

Damage to your Mesa garage door can do more than threaten the health of your property. It can also create a security weakness. Routinely check in on elements like the weather stripping, safety sensors, pulleys, hinges, springs, door tracks, and garage door balance to make sure they are in good condition. Make any needed garage door repairs in Mesa as quickly as possible. You’ll ensure that your door is safe and that it is more secure. Take care of your garage door. It is a critical component of your home, affecting everything from energy efficiency to pest control to security. With a healthy garage door, you can ensure that both your family and your home are safe – not only from injury from a failing garage door but also from would-be burglars that would exploit your garage door to get inside your home.

Take these steps to increase your garage door’s security, and call a same day garage door service as soon as you notice signs of trouble. Keep up with routine maintenance and make repairs quickly.

Bonus Tips to Make Your Garage Even More Secure

The four hacks above cover the basics, but a few extra steps go a long way. Burglary is still a common property crime: the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program estimated more than 1.1 million burglaries in the U.S. in 2019, with residential properties accounting for 62.8% of them and an average loss of $2,661 per burglary. According to InterNACHI, about 9% of burglars get in through the garage.

Lock the Door Between Your Garage and Home

Your garage door should never be the only thing standing between a burglar and your living room. Keep the door from your garage into your house locked at all times, even when you are home. Bob Vila recommends a steel door with a deadbolt in this spot for the strongest protection.

Defeat the "Coat Hanger" Trick

Some burglars slide a bent wire hanger through the gap at the top of the garage door to hook the red emergency release cord. One tug disconnects the door from the opener so it can be lifted by hand. Removing the loop from the release handle leaves nothing for a hanger to catch, while the cord still works when you need it. Never permanently disable the emergency release, because it is how you open your garage door when the power is out.

Use Timer-to-Close and Smartphone Alerts

A garage door left open is an open invitation. Many LiftMaster openers, including the 98022, offer Timer-to-Close, which automatically shuts the door after a set amount of time. The myQ app can also alert your phone when the door is left open and lets you close it from anywhere.

Make Sure Your Opener Uses Rolling Code Technology

Older openers that use a fixed code can be vulnerable to code grabbing. Rolling code technology, like LiftMaster’s Security+ 2.0, sends a new code to the opener every time you press the remote. If your opener predates rolling code, an upgrade is one of the best security investments you can make.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Door Security

Does the lock button on my opener disable my keypad?

No. On LiftMaster openers with a multi-function or smart control panel, Lock mode disables handheld remotes, but the wall control and outside keypad still work. That is why LiftMaster recommends having a keypad installed in case you accidentally lock yourself out.

Can a burglar open my garage door with a coat hanger?

It is possible if the emergency release cord can be reached through the gap at the top of the door. Removing the loop from the release handle, adding an automatic deadbolt, and keeping your weather stripping in good shape all make it much harder.

How fast can I get a broken garage door repaired in the East Valley?

Same Day Garage Door Services offers same day garage door repair in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Tempe, AZ, and throughout the East Valley. Whether you need broken garage door spring replacement, garage door off track repair, or emergency garage door repair for a door that won’t close, call 480-750-7975.

Have More Questions? Give Us a Call!

Call Same Day Garage Door Services in Arizona to schedule your routine garage door maintenance or repairs. We are a family owned and operated company that has a reputation for exceptional service and dependable results. Our technicians are licensed, bonded, and insured, and we offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on all our work. We perform same day repairs and install new garage doors. We can ensure that your garage door is in top condition and is secure. Call us today to get same day garage door repair service or to get a free, no-obligation estimate on a new garage door installation.

From garage door repair in Mesa, AZ and garage door opener repair in Gilbert, AZ to emergency garage door repair in Chandler and Tempe, our team serves Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Queen Creek, Ahwatukee, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, and the entire East Valley. Call 480-750-7975 or schedule service online.